Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm looking for some tips on lowering my electric heating bill. I live in an all-electric small 1 br apartment in Rutherford and my PSEG bill was almost $200 for December. (I can't wait to see the January bill! ) I always turn the heat off when I'm sleeping or not home, and I only heat my bedroom for most of the evening. I thought I was being pretty conservative until I got this bill!
Anyway, my windows are freezing cold and very drafty so I'm pretty sure I'm losing heat that way. If I owned the place I'd install better windows but I'm guessing that's probably not an option.
That's not surprising at all. Electric heat is the most expensive and least efficient form of heat. My parents have a house with electric heat and they often pay over $500/month to heat 3 rooms. It would probably be best not to turn the heat completely off though when you're not home. You'll waste a lot of energy having to re-heat the house when you get back home.
Put some of the heat-shrink stick on inside storm window treatments up. If you can, consider a window-unit heat pump, all you can do is try to make some quick insulation/sealing improvements, or go to a heat pump.
That and what you are doing - turn the heat down and tough it out at a lower temp. If you don't already have an electric blanket, you might want to get one.
Ignore the blarny about "Eden Pure" and similar heaters - all electic resistance heat is created exactly equal - that and as long as you are using resistance heat, you can't save any money with CFL lights, or any other high-efficiency appliances - whatever you don't use in the CFL, you WILL use in the resistance heater.
Sorry if I sound harsh, but you are simply up against the laws of Physics, which are not amenable to lawyer-ly blandishments.
I'm looking for some tips on lowering my electric heating bill. I live in an all-electric small 1 br apartment in Rutherford and my PSEG bill was almost $200 for December. (I can't wait to see the January bill! ) I always turn the heat off when I'm sleeping or not home, and I only heat my bedroom for most of the evening. I thought I was being pretty conservative until I got this bill!
Anyway, my windows are freezing cold and very drafty so I'm pretty sure I'm losing heat that way. If I owned the place I'd install better windows but I'm guessing that's probably not an option.
Any tips or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!
'Plasticize' the windows. Find some way to cover your windows with extra layers (blankets or quilts, etc) over your drapes.
Good tip I saw posted by someone else here. Get bubble wrap and cut it to the size of the window, mist the window with some water and it will stick. Easy to do and easy to take it off quick too.
Insulate windows as has been mentioned. Those shrink wrap kits aren't very expensive.
You may be surprised how much insulation some heavy curtains offer. Keep them drawn all of the time to keep heat in.
I've read that you should keep your heat constantly at a lower temperature instead of turning it off during the day. It costs more to bring the temperature up when the room is cold than it does to keep the temperature constant.
Last edited by World Citizen; 01-23-2010 at 04:40 PM..
I'm looking for some tips on lowering my electric heating bill. I live in an all-electric small 1 br apartment in Rutherford and my PSEG bill was almost $200 for December. (I can't wait to see the January bill! ) I always turn the heat off when I'm sleeping or not home, and I only heat my bedroom for most of the evening. I thought I was being pretty conservative until I got this bill!
Anyway, my windows are freezing cold and very drafty so I'm pretty sure I'm losing heat that way. If I owned the place I'd install better windows but I'm guessing that's probably not an option.
Any tips or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!
Seal your windows!
Seal N Peel costs about $5 per tube. Apply it like silicone caulk, and remove it in the spring. It'll make a world of difference.
The heat-shrink window kits are also inexpensive.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
) I always turn the heat off when I'm sleeping or not home, and I only heat my bedroom for most of the evening. I thought I was being pretty conservative until I got this bill!
